If you’ve ever been owned by a dog or puppy you will totally understand they are family. So as they are family you will want to treat them well and make sure they are getting the best treats, nutrition and enjoyment out of life.
I myself am happily owned by my puppers and am always looking for the perfect all natural treat or food to give him to help give him the best life he can have (hopefully without too much messiness 🙂 ) It can be very difficult as you stand in the pet aisle to try to decipher the ingredients and where they come from (speaking from experience).
So I have decided to try my hand at all natural treats and foods for his Kong toy to help keep him active, he is 8 years young and only has the cats and me for company (poor guy) so boredom can sometimes be an issue even with daily walks and tossing the ball around. I hope you will find some of these helpful also.
Note: Each of these Kong recipes for puppies will work for puppies over 12 weeks and dogs of any age.
Got a pup with a sensitive stomach? Try these Kong recipes for sensitive stomachs.
Kong Recipes for Sensitive Stomachs
Many of the sites I have looked into myself for my boy Chewy all seem to suggest stuffing your pups Kong with their favorite kibble and soaking it in either broth or water or even one suggested layering honey with yogurt and their favorite treat or meat….hmm…I always thought honey was a no no but according to the AKC some dogs can tolerate it in small amounts (*see Dogs and honey:) (With that in mind please never give your dogs grapes or chocolate as those will certainly not end up well).
There are a few other ingredients you should avoid as well if your dog has a sensitive tummy. I will discuss those later in the post. In general, if you cook from scratch for your dog like with these 15 recipes for homemade apple dog treats, their tummy will always do better – because there are no artificial ingredients.
These wonderful treats are both easy on your pups tummy and good for their body and immune systems! I have used this rice and chicken recipe for my pup when he wasn’t feeling well but never thought to use it in a Kong!
Need some good Kong dog treat recipes? Click here to learn more.
Kong recipe with rice and chicken:
Kong recipe with rice and chicken:
Ingredients
- Prepare, set aside and let cool:
- 1 cup Boiled rice
- 1 cup Boiled shredded/super fine chicken
- 1 cup Carrots and peas (rinsed if you use canned) optional
Instructions
(I recommend doing this over a large bowl or deep pan so you can set the kongs in top down and they are ready to fill and helps keep mess to a minimum.)
Cover hole of top of kong with pea then begin layering in your ingredients
Spoon a little rice in over the pea to seal the top hole
Spoon in a bit of peas and carrots
Spoon in a bit of shredded chicken (I find using my hands useful as they show in the video)
Notes
Continue this process until it is completely filled, packing down between each layer. The kong may bulge, this is normal. Any empty left over space at the end can be packed with rice as it will help hold in the ingredients.
Fills 3-4 medium/large Kongs. Refrigerate left over ingredients or freeze for use later or you can fill additional kongs and freeze for treats later.
Kong Recipe – Pumpkin, Oatmeal and Yogurt
Kong Recipe - Pumpkin, Oatmeal and Yogurt
Oatmeal is great for helping maintain a healthy digestive system, adding the fiber needed to your dogs regimen and aiding in skin and coat health. It can be added alone or combined with other ingredients for a tummy soothing delight as shown the recipe here:
Yogurt can help with digestion and balance of enzymes helping calm a sensitive tummy and is great combined with other ingredients (like your pups favorite fruits and frozen for a yummy summer treat…freezing is not recommended for upset tummies however)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Canned pumpkin (or cooked fresh pumpkin, cooled)
- 1 cup Oatmeal (soaked overnight or cooked and cooled, do not use instant)
- 1 cup Low or non-fat yogurt
Instructions
Alternate spooning in layers of pumpkin, oatmeal and yogurt. Seal top and bottom openings with oatmeal (acts like glue). I like to use a bowl to stand the Kongs up in so can fill more readily and easily without a lot of messiness.
Thanksgiving Kong Recipes
I like to make sure my little guy gets enough fiber in his diet and veggies are a great way to accomplish this (especially around the holidays! Added bonus, fiber aids in keeping their glands healthy). Sweet Potatoes are one of his favorites. He always begs for them when I make them, which is rare as we are the only ones in the house that love them 🙂
Does you dog like frozen treats? Give these Frozen Kong Recipes a try.
Kong Recipe Sweet Potato
Kong Recipe Sweet Potato
Ingredients
- 1 small to medium sweet potato
- 1/2 cup boiled rice – set aside to cool
- 2 Tbsp clear sodium, garlic and onion free chicken broth or stock
- 1/4 tsp honey (optional)
- 1 of your pups fave treats (optional)
- About 1/4 tsp peanut butter (make sure it is xylitol free)
- A small bowl or cup to put kongs in for filling and freezing.
Instructions
Peel the sweet potato and cube, then put in a small pot and cook it in about an inch of water or broth. Boil until the sweet potato is fork tender. Drain, let cool and set aside in a small bowl for mixing.
Mix all ingredients together and begin filling your Kong toy, (Or you can do the layering technique if you prefer, in which case you would not mix all the ingredients together with the exception of the broth, honey and sweet potato).
My pup seems to like the different tastes at each layer, so that is how I do it, but you can combine all in one. Top off with his or her fave treat (freeze if you wish) and wahla…a wonderful yummy treat your pup will love!
Notes
Thanks to virginiabluebelle for this recipe.
Kong Turkey Recipe
Kong Turkey Recipe
This wonderful feast couldn’t be any easier if it tried! I will definitely be making this one for my pup this Thanksgiving myself. He loves all the ingredients in it, He’s just gonna eat it up!!
Ingredients
- 1 cup shredded turkey
- 1/2 Cup Canned Pumpkin
- 1/4 Cup Dried Cranberries
- 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter (make sure it is Xylitol free!)
Instructions
Mix everything together in a small bowl. Use a separate small bowl to set your Kongs in for ease of filling and so they won’t tip on you when freezing, if you choose to freeze them.
Notes
I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of pups liking this one this season!
Looking for a healthy treat for your pup? Try these Healthy Kong stuffing recipes.
Kong Recipes for Raw Food Diet
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of correlating data out there on this. In my search for recipes using raw meat there are very few. (I suggest always talking to your veterinarian if you want to try a raw food diet with your pup). But consensus seems to be that raw organ meats and raw eggs can be mixed with any raw veggies, such as carrots and green beans, and put into the Kong.
My husband and I decided to go the freeze dried meat route as we deem them safer for use for our pup, as he is older and was never raw fed from the get go. You can find lots of freeze dried meats in the treat and dog food aisles of your store. We like to use the freeze dried chicken and liver…we buy brands that have no other ingredients except the main course as we try to avoid all the additives. You can also use the jerkies that are available, I just recommend cutting up finely so as to avoid choking.
Chewy’s favorite Raw Recipe concoctions:
- Mashed Banana with yogurt and a touch of honey mixed in, placed in the Kong and frozen.
- Freeze dried diced lamb liver or lung mixed with steamed white rice and a touch of *cheese.
- Dates and figs with freeze dried chicken all mashed together with some white steamed rice.
- Lightly steamed green beans and carrots with canned peas (washed off) mixed with sodium free mashed potatoes and a touch of cream/milk.
There is really no wrong way to do this, just mash, fill and let them have it or freeze for wonderful cold treats during hot summer months!
(*please do not feed blue cheese or other moldy cheeses to your dog as it is not good for them..please see attachment at the bottom of the post: Human foods dogs can and cannot eat.)
Thanks to paws4udogs for some great advice.
Kong Recipes Easy
Sometimes the most wonderful treat is also the simplest! This treat can be given in place of normal meal times for a smaller pooch or as a treat.
Kong Kibble Stuffing
Kong Kibble Stuffing
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dog Food
- 1 cup of water or no sodium broth
- Peanut butter, oatmeal, rice, or cheese
Instructions
1 cup of your dog’s favorite kibble/dry food…our pup likes the ones with the soft meaty bites in it, this is okay also to use.
Add 1 cup water to the kibble and let sit and soak up the water (you can use broth if you prefer, one with no sodium, garlic or onions is best)
Using a cup or bowl, sit the Kong inside and fill the Kong ¾ of the way full.
Add peanut butter (xylitol free) or oatmeal, rice or cheese to cap off the end. ( You can even add veggies to this mix if you like…)
My Pup just loves having an alternative to his everyday boring breakfast and dinner routine and this gets him playing, bringing out the pup in him and it helps get him to eat all his kibble to boot…It’s definitely a keeper!
What to Put in a Kong for an 8 Week Old Puppy
You may ask what can you give an 8 week old puppy, we have you covered there too. Kongs can be a great way to introduce kibble to your new puppy as well as make for a great training tool. We used Kongs for both of our pups and have found them to be great at helping with chewing behaviors as well as other types of issues.
Puppy Kong Treats
Puppy Kong Treats
Ingredients
- Equal parts of:
- Peanut butter
- Greek plain yogurt
- Blueberries
- Apples, diced
- bannana
Instructions
Spoon in in layers into your Kong(s), can be frozen for extra enjoyment and stimulation.
Notes
Even Older dogs will enjoy this treat, Our pup enjoys papaya (in moderation, cantaloupe and melon also)
Frozen Kong Treats
Nearly every stuffed Kong can be frozen for a nice cold treat for your pup on a really hot summer day. My Pup Chewy loves his to be stuffed with fruits and yogurt.
Here are a couple of his favorite recipes!
Fruity Froyo
Fruity Froyo
Ingredients
- 1 ripe mashed banana
- ¼ cup Peanut butter (xylitol free)
- ¼ cup Yogurt
- Crushed peanut butter dog treats
Instructions
Combine all ingredients into a bowl, mixing well. Spoon mixture into your Kong(s) I use a bowl to stand mine up for easy filling. Freeze until solid and let your pup enjoy!
Notes
My pup absolutely goes nuts for this one!
Summer Melon and Fruit Dog Treats
Summer Melon and Fruit Dog Treats
This is a great combination, provides lots of great hydration from the juices as well.. I have simply taken this recipe and converted it to use it in my pups Kong. You can literally use any pet safe fruits in this also. I generally puree all the ingredients together. Then stuff into the Kongs and freeze until solid.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Strawberries (with stems removed)
- 3 cups Watermelon flesh (chunked)
- 1/2 cup Cucumber (chunked, with skin on or off up to you. If using skin wash well to remove any waxes)
- 1 cup cantaloupe flesh (chunked)
Instructions
Blend on puree in a food processor or mash with a potato masher until well mixed, some chunkiness is okay.
Spoon into your pups Kong(s) and freeze until solid. All there’s left to do is give to your furbaby to enjoy!
Notes
Thanks to SayHelloNature for a wonderful recipe idea!
FAQS
Dogs and honey.
Generally speaking honey is safe for dogs in small quantities. Here are the details about honey from the AKC.
Human Foods Dogs Can and Cannot Eat
This is a question that comes up quite regularly, and there are some odd foods that dogs aren’t supposed to eat. See the entire list from the AKC here.
How to Clean your Pupper’s Kong
How to keep your pup happy and healthy is a question everyone asks, especially new owners. So here we will share with you via the link from the masters themselves how to properly clean and care for the Kong you trust your pup with. A good cleaning is important as it will prevent bacteria and mold build up inside the Kong… EWWW, Are you grossed out too?
* Be aware, I’m not a veterinarian, pet behaviorist or nutritionist so please talk to your personal veterinarian when trying new things for your pup. If you are not confident in feeding something to your pet that you are unfamiliar with I recommend to just not do it and consult your pets doctor before making any changes or adjustments to their diet. Also most of these recipes are considered treats, but in some cases (picky pup, new pup in training, etc. they can be used as meals when fed several times per day, again ask your Vet!)
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